Dune Grass Planting at MacGregor Park

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Why are Dune Grasses Important?

Dune grasses survive in a harsh environment. These hardy plants are frequently buried in sand (up to a metre deep), exposed to high winds and extreme temperatures. They are growing in an environment that is lacking in food and moisture. American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) has adapted well to this environment. It cannot reproduce by seed because the winds from the lake blow the seeds away. It spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) that produce nodes along their length and from each node a new plant can produce shoots. This grass also produces a large root mass to absorb food and water. These plants have long, thin leaves that help to conserve water and absorb mineral silica from the sand to make their leaves hardier.

The roots of dune grass are large and extensive and they hold the sand from blowing away. The roots provide structure and stability for the sand dunes. 

 

How Do We Transplant Dune Grass?

We have been getting our dune grass transplants from Inverhuron Provincial Park.

Harvesting: 

Spades are used to cut the underground roots. Holding the leaves, the sand is shaken off and the plant is separated into single culms. Each stem will not usually have much of a root system. The transplants are placed into a container for transport.

Transplanting:

When planting, the blade of the spade needs to be pushed 20-30 cm into the sand. The handle is pushed forward, leaving a gap and the stem should be planted 15-20 cm deep. Sand is then packed around the stem, eliminating air pockets using your heel.

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Our Plans for 2026!

In 2026, 100 students from SDSS travelled to Inverhuron, which has a healthy dune grass population, to gather the grasses and then transplanted them at MacGregor later in the day. They also spent time doing a beach clean up once the grasses were planted. We're hoping to make this an annual event with the SDSS Geography department

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